ICG claims Ivory Coast on verge of another civil war

In a new report, the International Crisis Group (ICG) claims that the Ivory Coast is on the verge of another civil war. The ICG places the blame for the precarious political situation in that west African country squarely on the shoulders of Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to acknowledge defeat in the most recent president election. For the executive summary, click here, where you can also find a link to the full report, which is only available in French currently.

Côte d’Ivoire is on the verge of a new civil war between the army loyal to the defiant Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to acknowledge he lost the November 2010 presidential election, and the “Forces nouvelles” (FN), the ex-insurgency now supporting the winner, Alassane Ouattara. The vote should have ended eight years of crisis, but Gbagbo, staged a constitutional coup and resorted to violence to keep power. The result is a serious threat to peace, security and stability in all West Africa. The African community should not be influenced by the support that Gbagbo enjoys from a part of the population that has been frightened by the ultra-nationalist propaganda and threats of chaos of a militant minority. It must act decisively, not least to defend the principle of democratic elections, but key countries show signs of dangerous disunity. Any proposal to endorse Gbagbo’s presidency, even temporarily, would be a mistake. His departure is needed to halt a return to war.

The November election was intended as the culmination of a painstaking peace process that began after the September 2002 rebellion and was endorsed by many agreements, the latest being the Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA) of March 2007. Gbagbo, like all other candidates, took part in the election on the basis of a series of compromises reached on all aspects of organisation and security.

‘’The African community should not be influenced by the support that Gbagbo enjoys from a part of the population that has been frightened by the ultra-nationalist propaganda and threats of chaos of a militant minority. It must act decisively, not least to defend the principle of democratic elections, but key countries show signs of dangerous disunity. Any proposal to endorse Gbagbo’s presidency, even temporarily, would be a mistake. His departure is needed to halt a return to war.’’

What is happening in Côte d’Ivoire is certainly regrettable and scaring but we do not have to forget that the African Community needs time to take the right decisions about it. There is no need to rush things in the name of democracy if you are going to screw everything up. There is a process for everything and time is always a best ally to achieve success. In addition, it is not only in the African Community that we can observe a sort of disagreement while it comes to take such decisions .This is also what we can call an advantage of democracy by respecting those who elected Gbagbo. Minority or not, they represent a part of the population that needs to be managed in order to avoid a greater civil war.Their votes can’t just be ignored because they supposedly voted under ‘’ultra-nationalist influence’’. I have never seen American ultra-nationalists, Hungarian ultra-nationalists or French ultra-nationalists portrayed with a such contempt.Since when it is unconventional to be nationalist? Or it is just unconventional to be an African nationalist? Ironically, africans are most of the time criticized as non-nationalists but when they are nationalists, they are qualified as aliens…Gbagbo’s departure is maybe ‘’necessary’’ to avoid what can be avoided but there is not guaranty since the national army still behind him….There is an African proverb which says that:’’ The rain always ends up ceasing.’’ Then,wait and hope…..